Multipath streaming system and method for providing at least one stream of data packets for media and/or video from a transmitting node to a receiving node

Abstract

A multipath streaming method and system provide at least one stream of data packets for media and/or video from a transmitting node to a receiving node. The system includes a transmitting node configured to transmit data packets via at least two network connection paths, a receiving node configured to receive data packets via at least two network connection paths, and at least one proxy node configured to relay data packets received from the transmitting node to the receiving node. Processing circuitry is configured to send data packets from the transmitting node to the receiving node via a first network connection path, and send data packets from the transmitting node to the receiving node via at least one proxy node via at least a second network connection path.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A multipath streaming system for providing at least one stream of data packets for media and/or video from a transmitting node to a receiving node, wherein the multipath streaming system comprises:
 a transmitting node configured to transmit data packets via at least two network connection paths; 
 a receiving node configured to receive data packets via at least two network connection paths; 
 at least one proxy node configured to relay data packets received from the transmitting node to the receiving node; and 
 a processing circuitry configured to be operatively connected to at least one of the transmitting node, the receiving node and the at least one proxy node, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to:
 send data packets from the transmitting node to the receiving node via a first network connection path, wherein the first network connection path is a point-to-point network connection path between the transmitting node and the receiving node; 
 send data packets from the transmitting node to the receiving node via at least one proxy node via at least a second network connection path; 
 send data packets from the transmitting node to the receiving node via the first network connection path, and send data packets from the transmitting node to the receiving node via the second network connection path simultaneously; 
 receive, at the receiving node, data packets from the transmitting node via the first network connection path; 
 receive, at the receiving node, data packets from the transmitting node sent via the at least one proxy node via the at least second network connection path; and 
 aggregate data packets received via the first network connection path and data packets received via the second network connection path at the receiving node for generating a redundant stream of data packets. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The multipath streaming system according to  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 detect a change in latency or detect a change in loss of data packets in the stream of data packets in any of the first network connection path and the second network connection path; and 
 adjust, at the transmitting node, the amount of data packets to be sent via the first network connection path and the amount of data packets to be sent via the second network connection path based on the change in latency or change in loss of data packets. 
 
     
     
       3. The multipath streaming system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one network connection path is established via at least one network connection link connecting the transmitting node with the network. 
     
     
       4. The multipath streaming system according to  claim 3 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 detect a change in latency or detect a change in loss of data packets in the stream of data packets in any of the first network connection path and the second network connection path; and 
 adjust, at the transmitting node, the amount of data packets to be sent via a first network connection link and a second network connection link based on the change in latency or change in loss of data packets in any of the first network connection path and the second network connection path. 
 
     
     
       5. The multipath streaming system according to any of the  claim 4 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 obtain a desired priority rank parameter associated with transmitting data packets via any of the at least one network connection link and/or the at least one proxy node; and 
 adjust, at the transmitting node, the amount of data packets to be sent via the at least one network connection link and/or the at least one proxy node based on the desired priority rank parameter. 
 
     
     
       6. The multipath streaming system according to  claim 1 , wherein the stream of data packets via the second network connection path are sent via a first proxy node and a second proxy node that are connected in serial for adjusting the route of the second network connection path. 
     
     
       7. The multipath streaming system according to  claim 1 , wherein the stream of data packets is sent from the transmitting node to the receiving node via a third network connection path wherein the third network connection path directs the stream of data packets via a second proxy node that is connected in parallel to the first proxy node. 
     
     
       8. The multipath streaming system according to  claim 1 , wherein the stream of data packets sent via the first network connection path is sent as a redundant stream of data packets via the at least second network connection path for generating a redundant stream of data packets. 
     
     
       9. A method for providing at least one stream of data packets for media and/or video from a transmitting node to a receiving node, the method comprising:
 sending data packets from a transmitting node to a receiving node via a first network connection path, wherein the first network connection path is a point-to-point network connection path between the transmitting node and the receiving node; 
 sending data packets from the transmitting node to the receiving node via at least one proxy node via at least a second network connection path; 
 sending data packets from the transmitting node to the receiving node via the first network connection path, and sending data packets from the transmitting node to the receiving node via the second network connection path simultaneously; 
 receiving, at the receiving node, data packets from the transmitting node via the first network connection path; 
 receiving, at the receiving node, data packets from the transmitting node sent via the at least one proxy node via the at least second network connection path; and 
 aggregating data packets received via the first network connection path and data packets received via the second network connection path at the receiving node for generating a redundant stream of data packets. 
 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 9  further comprising:
 detecting, a change in latency or change in loss of data packets in the stream of data packets in any of the first network connection path and the second network connection path; and 
 adjusting, at the transmitting node, the amount of data packets to be sent via the first network connection path and the amount of data packets to be sent via the second network connection path based on the change in latency or change in loss of data packets. 
 
     
     
       11. The method according to any of the  claim 10 , further comprising:
 detecting, a change in latency or change in loss of data packets in the stream of data packets in any of the first network connection path and the second network connection path; and 
 adjusting, at the transmitting node, the amount of data packets to be sent via a first network connection link and a second network connection link based on change in latency or change in loss of data packets in any of the first network connection path and the second network connection path. 
 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11  comprising:
 obtaining a desired priority rank parameter for transmitting data packets via any of the at least one network connection link and/or the at least one proxy node; and 
 adjusting, at the transmitting node, the amount of data packets to be sent via the at least one network connection link and/or the at least one proxy node based on the desired priority rank parameter. 
 
     
     
       13. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium, having thereon a computer program comprising program instructions, the computer program being loadable into a processing circuitry and configured to cause execution of the method according to  claim 9 , when the computer program is run by the at least one processing circuitry.